FDA announces new sunscreen labeling rules

The Food & Drug Administration revised its 33-year-old rules on sunscreen labeling this week, mandating that sunscreens protect against both UVA and UVB radiation before they can be labeled “broad spectrum.”

The new regulations also state that only sunblocks with an SPF rating of 15 or higher can claim that they help prevent sunburn or skin cancer. Finally, sunscreens can no longer be labeled waterproof or sweatproof, and instead will need to state the minutes for which the product is “water-resistant.”

A New York Times article about the new rules explained that the FDA is also undertaking further testing of the safety of current sunscreen ingredients and seeking further comment about the necessity and efficacy of SPFs over 50.